Stargate Atlantis: Your Burning Questions Answered!

With the July 11 Season 5 premiere of Sci Fi Channel's
Stargate Atlantis just a week-and-a-half away, we thought it a good time to reveal exec producer Joseph Mallozzi's answers to many of your questions posted to the
TVGuide.com Asks blog. Will Lt. Ford return? Is a new alien race on the horizon? Will the Midway station be rebuilt? Read on for those answers and more.

I'd like to know if there is any chance of seeing another hot Sheppard/Teyla kiss. And will these two get together romantically ? TheUnitLoverJoseph Mallozzi: Romance blossoms in Season 5 of Atlantis but, alas, not between Sheppard
and Teyla. Last we left our favorite Athosian back in Season 4, she had a man in her life - or, more accurately, a half-man half-iratus bug with very conflicted feelings.

My question is about Lt. Ford from the beginning of the series. I enjoyed his character and was wondering if they will ever do a show where he is located and maybe healed, or should we assume he is gone for good? - rlsbridgesMallozzi: We have no plans to revisit the Ford storyline this season. For the time being, consider him "MIA." But the Pegasus Galaxy is a big place....

What are the prospects of more SG-1 characters appearing in Atlantis? - ImaDigitalSpyMallozzi: Well, as you may or may not be aware, Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) will be swinging by for the show's mid-season two-parter. Also, schedule permitting, we would love to have Colonel Carter (Amanda Tapping) put in an appearance for the show's 100th episode (our Season 5 finale).

Who exactly are they trying to hook Dr. Keller up with? In "Quarantine," she kissed Ronan, but after "Trio" it looked like she was interested in McKay. CharissaMallozzi: Who indeed! On the one hand, "Quarantine" certainly suggested a possible spark between Keller and Ronon; on the other hand, "Trio" and "Last Man" seem to suggest chemistry between Keller and Rodney. Looks like we're headed toward an interesting little love triangle....

Will Connor Trineer be back as Michael Kenmore (he should be, to fill in the details of the finale), and if so, for how many episodes? Are you planning on doing anything more with Wraith ally Todd (Brendan penny) than just a recurring character? ScottRevelsMallozzi: Doing more with Todd than just a recurring character? You mean, are we planning to make him part of the team? Nope. Todd, like Michael, works best as a recurring player. We have interesting plans for both. Watch for Michael to put in an appearance or two in Season 5, and expect to see Todd in at least five episodes this upcoming season.

I read an article few days ago that said Season 5 will have a new powerful race. My questions are: 1) Is that true? 2) If it's true, is the race all new, never appeared before? 3) Which episode they will show up? 4) Are they as recurring role or just a one time thing? jjitMallozzi: 1) There will be a new player in the Pegasus Galaxy. 2) No comment. 3) They will show up in our mid-season two-parter. 4) They have the potential to be recurring.

There was a lot of emphasis on Sheppard and McKay's friendship last season, which I'm not complaining about - those two are the reason I watch the show. Are they going to continue that trend, or are they going to try to put some distance between them this next season with all the rumored emphasis on romance? kaydeeMallozzi: I feel that the friendships between all the members of the Atlantis team are an important part of the show. That said, we'll be exploring many of these relationships over the course of the show's fifth season: Ronon-Rodney, Sheppard-Teyla, Sheppard-Ronon, to name but a few.

Will there be more stability with the cast? I feel that over the last two seasons it keeps changing drastically. tfbeachgirlMallozzi: We have our established cast for Season 5 but the realities of television make it impossible to make predictions beyond the finale.

Will we ever see Weir or Evil Weir at some point? And why was Weir taken off in the first place? Was it to make room for Sam? Any new big bads this season? DerFel85Mallozzi: The decision to make Samantha Carter the new base commander in Season 4 was in no way related to the decision made with regard to the Elizabeth Weir character. The fact that we've brought in Richard Woolsey to take over the position in Season 5 makes that pretty clear.

Are we going to see more of McKay's sister in this upcoming season? How many Earth-based episodes? - QuinnMalloryMallozzi: Yes, we will see McKay's sister in Season 5. Watch for Jeannie Miller to pay her brother a visit in The Shrine. Also, expect about two-and-a-half Earth-based episodes this season.

Will Jewel Staite (Dr. Keller) become a series regular and appear in the opening credits? djariyaMallozzi: Yes, she will.

Are Ronan and McKay ever going to find out that they are both interested in Dr Keller? KitanaKatMallozzi: They will.

Are the IOA's powers that be going to rebuild the Midway Station? JenaMallozzi: Not anytime soon. After the events of Midway, they're having second thoughts. For now, Atlantis will have to rely on the two-and-a-half week ship-bound journey between galaxies.

Please say it's not true, that the 100th episode is going to take place in Las Vegas? Why can't the 100th episode be in the Pegasus Galaxy instead of Earth? - snerkleMallozzi: We've yet to break the 100th episode. However, in our initial spinning, we have discussed the possibility of having the best of both worlds - or galaxies, as the case may be.

I want to know if Teyla's baby is going the way of Vala's and will be evil. Please say no.... - autumnalmightyMallozzi: OK. No.

Will Teyla come back for a full season? I understand that the writers gave her character a short/limited appearance on SGA because of her pregnancy. cyr1988Mallozzi: We'll definitely be seeing more of Teyla in Season 5 as she attempts to balance motherhood and her off-world wraith-killing commitments.

Are we going to see more of Rodney's past this year? - highonstargateMallozzi: Indeed we will, in a late Season 5 episode in which he'll be reunited with an old friend and rival. We're casting this one as I answer this question and, if all goes as planned, it will offer up some fun cameos.

I hear Carson Beckett will be making a few appearances - is this true? After McKay and Sheppard, his character was one of my favorites. He had depth, was relatable, and genuinely funny. - SmashingSilentMallozzi: Yes. Paul McGillion will be reprising the role of Dr. Carson Beckett in five glorious episodes this upcoming season.

What is the No. 1 decision you have come to regret as show runner of Atlantis? Do you wish you could take back removing Elizabeth Weir/Torri Higginson from the main cast? reiko_afterglowMallozzi: No. So far, no regrets. I was very happy with Season 4 and hope Season 5 proves just as satisfying and full of surprises.